Garment



July 28,1959 y, MCKEE Y 2,896,633

v GARMENT Filed oct. 20. 195e IN V EN TOR.

, Velda McKee GARMENT Velda McKee, Portland, Oreg.

Application `ctober 20, 1958, Serial No. 768,293

7 Claims. (Cl. 12S-526) This invention relates to a `garmentconstruction, and more particularly to a ladies and childrens garmentconstruction such as may be used in the :manufacture of bathing suits,play suits, or undergarments such as girdles, corsets, and the like.

Specifically, this invention has to do with a novel construction for thelower trunkor torso-covering portion of a garment. The construction isparticularly valuable in the manufacture of girdles and similarundergarments where it is desired to cover and also to lend support to`the wearer.

The invention contemplates a garment construction wherein the garmenthas a principal garment body portion which covers the lower trunk ortorso region, and which is shaped to fit snugly about a wearers buttocksand abdomen. Included in the garment is a llap portion or crotch piecewhich is secured at one end to a back section of the garment body, i.e.,that section which covers the back of the wearer, and 4thence passesbetween the legs of the wearer with the sides of the piece and the loweredges of the garment body cooperating to dene leg-receiving apertures.The front or other end of the piece is detachably secured by a slidefastener tothe front section of the garment, i.e., that section whichcovers the lower front of a wearer.

The crotch piece or flap portion of the garment terminates at `itsfront, detachable end in a transversely-extend ing panel section whichhas an arcuately-curved edge along one side thereof and extending fromone end of the panelsection to the other. One of the tracks ofthe slidefastener is `secured to this edge and the other of the tracks of theslide fastener is secured to the front section of `the garment bodyportion. The two `tracks are fastened together by means of aconventional tab. When fastened together, the panel section assumes aposition with the arcuate edge arched first upwardly, then across, and`then downwardly progressing from one end of the panel section to theother.

There are several advantages to the construction outlined above. Byemploying a slide fastener, the flap portion quickly can be disconnectedfrom the main body portion of the garment when desired. Further, theattachment is made without bulging and ruining of the garment parts,thereby to create anunsightly appearance. The construction isparticularly advantageous in garrnents which are designed at leastpartially torender sup- `port. Insuch garments, a certain degree ofconnement `of the abdomen and `buttocks is desired, and this is hard ftoobtain using other known attachment devices.

With a `slide fastener, a continuous connection is made along the lengthof the attachment panel section, which enables Vthe even distribution ofstresses across the section from one side of the garment to the other.

The slide fastener not onlyis continuous, `but also has an arcuateoutline. `'This is important. For one thing,

-it permits a piece of large, irregular outline to be secured in placeusing a single fastener. Most important, the arcuate shape allows `for a`certain amount of yield or nited States l Patent give between the twoends of the panel section which are secured to the two ends of thefastener, with the fastener tracks tending to straighten out duringstretching of the panel section. This, as a practical matter, is notpossible to obtain with button-type fasteners or with slide fastenerswhich have a linear outline.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, `the slide fastener liesllat over the abdomen of a wearer, with the slide fastener curving aboutan axis extending normally of the plane of the tracks of the fastener.Thus the fastener is arched, but instead of being on edge, lies flat andis curved with the ends of the fastener displaced in a lateraldirection. The result is a neat, nonprotruding connection.

Other objects and features `are attained by the `invention, which isdescribed hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. l is a front view ofa garment of the girdle type constructedaccording to the invention and having a detachable flap portion orcrotch piece secured at its forward end by a slide fastener to the mainbody portion of the garment; and

Fig. 2 is a view of the detachable flat portion showing theforward endof the flap portion disconnected from the main body portion of `thegarment and lorwered therefrom.

Referring now to the drawings for a `description of the invention, 10indicates general-ly a ladys `girdle of the type that is used to coverthe lower trunk regions of a wearer and render some degree of supportthereto. The girdle comprises a principal body part 11 adapted' snuglyto be fitted over the lower trunk regions of a wearer, and

by stitching tothe front and backcover sections and joining adjacentside edges of these sections. The elastic nature ofthe strip portionspermits some degree `of give between the frontand back sections.

Front and back sections 12 and 13 conventionally may be made from atextile `material or possibly a plastic sheeting material. In theembodiment shown, eachcomprises several pieces of material securedtogether by stitching. Thus the front section is made up `of `threeseparate cloth pieces, indicated at 20, 21, and `2`2`,-jo'ined togetheras by seams 23 and 24. The front Vsection also comprises an elastic,triangular `piece 26, secured as by sewing to piece 21, which isprovided to lgive yield in certain portions of the garment.

An elongated slide fastener 27 extends downwardly 4along one side of thegarment, and `is used forbringing `together `the front and back sectionswhen the `garment is fitted into position. As so far described, thegarment is conventional, and exemplary of many that are availablecommercially. t

As best seen in Fig. 2, secured to back section 13 approximatelycentrally between the side edges thereof is an elongated llap portion orcrotch piece 36. Preferably the connection of the liap portion withsection 13 is a detachable one, such as the one illustrated, wherein theend of the flap portion is secured in place` by albuckle 37 which joins`together strap ends 38 and 319 secured to the back section and the endof the flap portion, respectively.

In the embodiment illustrated, `the flap immediately adjacent strap 39has a V-shapedoutline, with the edges of the `flap /dhen progressingsmoothly to join an elongated intermediate portion 40. During use,portion 40 is passed between the legs ofya wearer with `the side edgesof portion 40 delining` with portions of the lower edges of garment body11 leg-receiving apertures.

Flap portion 36 `terminates `at `its forward end inan elongated,transversely-extending attachment lpanel section 46. The panel sectionis fan-shaped, `and has a semicircular marginal edge 48 connecting witha linear edge 47. Panel section 46 is secured to portion 40 of the flapby arcuate stitching 51, which joins the semicircular marginal edge tothe remainder of the flap. Panel section 46 and portion 40 together givethe fiap portion a T-shaped outline.

The body of the flap portion is also made of textile material or plasticsheeting material. Included in panel section 46 is an elastic piece 52,which .is trapezoidal in shape, and is stitched between and holdstogether two end pieces 53, 54. The elastic piece permits end stretchingof the panel section.

Sewn along semicircular edge 48, and extending substantially the`distance between `one end of the attachment panel section to the other,is an elongated track 56 of a slide fastener mechanism designatedgenerally at 57. Complementing track 56 is a track 58, also ofsemicircular shape, secured to garment body portion 11. of front section12, which has an outline which complements the arcuate outline ofattachment panel section 46. Track 58 is sewn to garment body 11 alongthe edge of this cutout.

Tracks 56, 58 are separated and joined together by a conventional `tab61. The slide fastener is the type that allows disconnection of the endsof the fastener tracks, and thus is provided with a clip 62 which joinstogether two anchor ends 63, 64 for the tracks. A cloth shield portion66 sewn to front section 12 and disposed beneath track 58 may beprovided to protect the wearer from pinching when the slide fastener isactuated.

The attachment panel section is shown attached in place to the mainportion of the girdle in Fig. 1. In this position, it will be seen thatthe panel section is secured along its length to body 11, with thearcuate edge intermediate the ends of the panel section firmly securedcontinuously to body portion 11.

It will also be noted in Fig. l that the slide fastener lies at with thetracks of the fastener in a common, substantially Vertical plane whenthe panel section is in an attached position. Thus lthe tracks of thefastener are curved or arched about axes extending perpendicularly tothe plane of the tracks. The construction is preferable to one in whichthe fastener is on edge and curved by bending along axes which areparallel to the plane of the tracks, as the construction minimizes anybulging attributable to the fastener.

'I'he construction described has a number of advantages. The slidefastener permits swift and easy separation of the attachment panelsection from the main body of the garment, when it is `desired todisconnect the front end of the ap and lower the same. Further, sincethe fastener is a continuous one, stresses are transmitted evenlythrough the fastener between section 46 and front section 12.

The arched configuration of the panel section edge and the slidefastener is of particular importance. For one thing, the arched shapeenables the securing together by one fastener of 4the ends of the panelsection as well as side edge portions. Such a connection is important ifthe garment truly is to function as a support garment.

The arcuate shape of the slide fastener is also mportant in providingfor stretching apart of the panel section ends. Such stretching would beseverely limited with a linear fastener, as fasteners themselves are noteasily stretched along their length,

While the specific embodiment of the invention described in detailhereinabove has to do with a girdle construction, in its broadestaspects the invention relates to garment construction generally, and thevarious features of the invention have applicability to other types ofgarments such as bathing suits or swim suits, onepiece play suits, or`any other garment, particularly ladies and girls garments, having acrotch section. Cloth and An arcuate cutout is provided in the loweredge 4 textile material includes tapes, binding material and sectionsmade of plastic, woven or in sheet form. It is desired not to be limitedby the specific construction shown herein; but to cover allmodifications and variations coming within the scope `of the appendedclaims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A ladys garment comprising a body part adapted snugly to be fitted onthe lower trunk portion of a wearer `and to encompass the buttocks andabdomen of a wearer, said body part having front and back sections forcovering the lower trunk front and back areas, respectively, anelongated ap portion secured at one end to the back section of said bodypart intermediate opposite sides of the section, said tlap portionterminating at its other end in an attachment panel section havingopposite end edges arranged on opposite sides, respectively, of said apportion, and means detachably securing the attachment panel section tothe front section of said body portion, the latter means comprisingelongated slide fastener means extending continuously substantially thedistance between the opposite end edges ofthe attachment panel section,said slide fastener means describing a continuously curving sweepbetween the end edges of .the attachment panel section.

2. A ladys garment comprising a body part adapted snugly to be fitted onthe lower trunk portion of a wearer and to encompass the buttocks andabdomen of a wearer, said body part having front and back sections forcoving the lower trunk front and back areas, respectively, a crotch flapsecured at one end to said back section intermediate the sides thereof,and means detachably connecting the other end of said crotch flap tosaid front section, the latter means comprising an elongated slidefastener of arcuate outline extending substantially the distance betweenopposite side edges yof the crotch flap and arching in a continuoussweep first upwardly, then across, and then downwardly progressing fromone side edge of the crotch ap to the other.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein said slide fastener comprises a pairof elongated tracks arranged side by side, one of which is secured tosaid front section and the other of which is secured to said crotchflap, and an attachment tab slidable along the length of said tracks toeffect separation or joining together of the tracks, and wherein saidtracks lie in substantially a common plane and are curved about axesextending normally to the plane of the tracks when the fastener is in ajoined together position and the garment in a wearing position.

4. A ladys garment comprising a body part adapted snugly to be fitted onthe lower trunk portion of a wearer and to encompass the buttocks andabdomen of a wearer, said body part having back and front sectionscovering the lower trunk front and back areas, respectively, anelongated flap portion secured at one end to the back section of saidbody part intermediate opposite sides of the section, said flap portionhaving at its other end an attachment panel section extendingtransversely of the flap portion, said attachment panel section having alength which is substantially longer than the width of the flap portion,said attachment panel section being at least partially made of anelastic material so arranged as to accommodate end stretching of thepanel section, and means securing the attachment panel section to thefront section of said body part, that latter means comprising elongatedslide fastener means extending continuously substantially the distancebetween opposite ends of the attachment panel section, said slidefastener means having an arcuate outline and arching upwardly and thendownwardly progressing from one end of the attachment panel section tothe other.

5. A ladys garment comprising a body part adapted snugly to be fitted onthe lower trunk portion of a wearer and to encomp-ass the buttocks andabdomen of a wearer, said body part having front and back sections forcovering the lower trunk front and back areas, re-

5 spectively, a crotch Hap secured at one end to said back sectionapproximately intermediate the sides of the back section, said crotchflap having a generally T-shaped outline and terminating at its otherend in `a transversely extending elongated panel section, said panelsection being at least partially comprised of an elastic material soarranged `as to accommodate end stretching of the panel section, andmeans securing ythe panel section to the front section of said bodypart, the latter means comprising an elongated slide fastener of arcuateoutline extending substantially the distance from one end ot' the panelsection to the other and arching in a continuous sweep -lrst upwardlyand then downwardly progressing from one end of the panel section to theother.

6. The garment of claim 5 wherein said slide fastener comprises `a pairof elongated tracks arranged side by side, one of which is secured tosaid front section `and the other of which is secured to said panelsection, and an attachment tab slidable along the length of the tracksto eiect separation and joining together of the tracks, and wherein thetracks on attachment together lie in substantially `a common plane, andare arched about axes extending substantially perpendicular `to ltheplane of the tracks. i

7. A ladys garment comprising a body part adapted snugly yto be tted onthe lower trunk portion of a wearer and to encompass vthe buttocks andabdomen of a wearer, said body part having front and back sections forcovering the lower ltrunk front and back areas, respectively, a crotchilap secured at one end to said back section intermediate the sidesthereof, `and means detachably connecting the other end of said crotchflap to said front section, the latter means comprising a substantiallycontinuous, elongated detachable securing means spanning substantially`the outline width of said crotch lap at said other end and having ilatinterengageable edge por- `tions secured smoothly to the body portionand crotch ap, respectively, said detachably securing means having an`arcuate outline between the ends thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,468,346 Rayden Apr. 26, 1949 2,490,137 Keller Dec. 6, 1949 2,544,432Morano Mar. 6, 1951 2,661,002 Silverman Dec. 1, 1953

